I'd have to agree with Robert on this one. There is plenty of very good sushi to be had in San Francisco but it seems that there is precious little (and I've yet to have) sushi that is as great as can be had in many places in New York, Los Angeles or, to my palate, Seattle. I haven't been to Japan, so can't compare anything there and San Francisco.

Oh Please. Especially if you haven't been to Japan. NY or LA have some of the same trained sushi chefs as in the bay area. If you think that that sushi quality is only determined by paying over 100$, then just keep walking. You just need to know where to look. Kiss, Sushi Ran, and Omakase at some of small places like Ino's can beat an overpriced Morimoto's anyday.

I don't think anyone who is comparing NY / LA sushi to SF sushi is using Morimoto as their standard bearer. Have been to Kiss, Sushi Ran and everything else mentioned for the Bay Area. Are they really really good? Yes. Are they even close to the top tier in NY / LA? Not a chance. When I think NY, I'm comping against 15 East, Ichimura, etc and When I think LA, I'm comping against Shunji and the like. Frankly, I've had sushi in SD (Kaito) that crushes anything in SF.

Wow, old thread. Just got back from Tokyo which reminded me that the best in NYC (15E, Ichimura, Azabu back in the day, etc.) are maybe about as good as a good neighborhood joint in Tokyo. Which makes sushi in SF about as good as trying to get a decent taco in Tokyo.

I do vaguely wonder how the pop-up sushi counter at Saison is. Not enough to make reservations, mind you. But to have Skenes say this about the rice being made there makes me wonder if it's at least in the right direction:

“It’s really hard to find great, great high-level — I mean, Japan-level — rice. In fact, I haven’t ever had any in San Francisco. It doesn’t exist, besides this.”

Rice is the biggest flaw in SF, esp. at the likes of Maruya, Kusakabe and Wako, which are vaguely headed in the right direction, yet are so far away...

Yes, very old thread! My favorite place, Shimo's, closed down and I no longer live in SF but in the East Bay. And talk about bad sushi!! And they usually charge the same as good sushi, which is just insult to injury. Thanks for the recommendations (even if they aren't as good as Tokyo). I'm so out of touch with SF now and would never know where to go anymore. Marinated baby octopus is one of my favorites. Know of anywhere that has that? I love uni too. That and some fatty salmon and that's really all I need to be happy. And a glass of plum wine. Take care!